Progressive Produce and Pacific Trellis Fruit announced several changes in executive leadership Sept. 16. The moves are designed to enhance the ongoing partnership between the two brands, according to the companies.
Effective immediately, Eric Coty will join Pacific Trellis Fruit as executive vice president of fruit. With more than 30 years of industry experience, Coty has served in executive roles across sales and marketing, grower relations, quality control and operations.
In this newly established position, Coty will spearhead the go-to-market strategy for the fruit division, which includes grapes, stone fruit, cherries and citrus. Coty will be managing relationships throughout the supply chain, with a focus on driving sales and creating sustainable operations that support Pacific Trellis’ significant upcoming growth.
Josh Leichter has chosen to step away from his responsibilities as CEO at Pacific Trellis Fruit but will retain his role as director of imported grapes, a category that is vital to Pacific Trellis Fruit and for which he carries immense experience and excitement, the company says. Pacific Trellis Fruit says that for the past two seasons it has been one of the largest importers of South American grapes, with a diversified supply base across multiple countries and growing regions.
Cory Stahl will leave his position of vice president of sales for Progressive Produce to assume the role of executive vice president of Dulcinea melons at Pacific Trellis Fruit. He will lead the go-to-market strategy for the melon division as it continues to scale.
Throughout his time at Progressive, Stahl has contributed to every business unit. Notably, he was integral to the successful launch of the asparagus and wet vegetable category, and in 2018 assumed the role of vice president of sales, overseeing asparagus, wet vegetables, chilis, herbs, citrus and third-party logistics services, the company says.
Scott Leimkuhler will now be executive vice president for Progressive Produce. In this expanded role, he will lead the go-to-market strategy for all of Progressive’s key categories including potatoes, onions, yams, asparagus, wet vegetables, chilis, herbs and citrus. Leimkuhler has been with Progressive Produce for more than 15 years.
As part of these shifts in executive leadership, Marty Kamer, previously CEO of Progressive Produce, and Simon Miller will serve as group CEO and chief financial officer/chief operations officer, respectively, of both Progressive Produce and Pacific Trellis Fruit. Though the companies will remain two distinct entities with unique product offerings and go-to-market strategies, this transition is a strategic move that will allow them to share resources.
The companies add that the personnel announcement marks the culmination of a partnership 18 months in the making. Last year, Progressive Produce joined Arable Capital Partners, which also holds a majority stake in Pacific Trellis Fruit. This led to a symbiotic relationship between the two entities, in which Kamer and Miller worked alongside Leichter and other executive leadership to forge a path forward as two separate and distinct entities.
“Our strategy going forward is quite simple: Put the right people in the right positions at the right time,” says Kamer. “These adjustments to our leadership structure will enhance the synergies we have developed over the past several months and allow for continued growth going forward.”
